A COUNCIL THAT WORKS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF PEOPLE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES
My Vision
For Whangārei District CouncilA Council that works hand-in-hand with all the wonderfully diverse and unique communities that make up the Whangārei District. A bottom-up, decentralised approach, where community voices are heard and are part of the decision making process. After all, who knows a community best, if not the people who live in it.
A Council that supports and encourages communities to be proactive and engaged in their own betterment. While Council has a duty to provide essential services and core infrastructure that is both fit for purpose and sustainable, communities work best when people pull together ‘to get the job done’. It makes sense for services to be delivered by locals wherever and whenever possible – for example, a local lawnmower contractor living on the coast would be much more cost effective than the current practice of sending a ‘preferred contractor’ all the way out from Whangārei. Enabling community members to deliver services offers employment opportunities, keeps the money in the local economy and saves ratepayer money.
A Council that truly supports volunteers. Nothing beats people coming together to work on a community project, or to help out a neighbour affected by an adverse weather event, starting at a grassroots level. Everyone can play a part – big or small – and in the process build an engaged, connected and more resilient community that celebrates progress and reinforces community commitment. With a helping hand from Council, it is easier to build a liveable and sustainable city wide district by first tackling each of the unique and diverse communities that form the whole.
A Council that is committed to local placemaking.
A Council that is committed to fairness across the District with no community advantaged over another.
A Council that spends ratepayer money wisely and is transparent and accountable for its actions. It can never be forgotten that elected members occupy the position they do at the largesse of the public – and it is the ratepayer’s hard earned money that they are making the decisions on how it should be spent.
A Council – the bureaucrats and elected members – that actively engage with their communities and truly listen. Public consultation is really just a ‘tick box’ exercise; hence so few people actually engage in the process. I am of the opinion that councillors should regularly attend community meetings and events within their ward to act as a conduit between those communities and the whole of Council. Elected representatives that either live in, or have a strong connection to, a particular area are best placed to represent the people and communities in that ward. They know the area – it’s strengths and it’s challenges – on a personal level. Although, it is the duty for ALL councillors to be well informed on ALL issues affecting the Whangarei District, drawing representatives from all the different areas and communities makes for a more diverse and rounded Council.
A Council that supports decision-making remaining firmly in the hands of the duly elected Mayor and Councillors and not in the hands of unaccountable, and unelected, bureaucrats. Council staff are there to serve, support and advise the elected Mayor and Councillors. The Mayor and Councillors are there to serve the people.
A Council that provides choice and actively promotes and supports both sports and the arts.
A Council that supports local small and medium businesses, including our often forgotten and neglected rural sector.